Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatments at Phoenix CyberKnife

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve. It is caused by the trigeminal nerve function being disrupted. This is due to contact between blood vessels, aging, multiple sclerosis, or tumors. This condition causes even a mild touch on the cheek to result in intense pain. While it typically is found in women, Trigeminal Neuralgia affects men and women and is more common in people over 50. Trigeminal Neuralgia shouldn’t inhibit people from living their lives to the fullest, and there are many treatment options available.

What is CyberKnife?

Phoenix CyberKnife & Radiation Oncology Center offers focused radiation treatments for Trigeminal Neuralgia as well as prostate, breast, lung, and brain cancers, among others. They have been giving hope to patients and restoring health for years with their state-of-the-art CyberKnife System. The CyberKnife System offers a non-invasive alternative to surgery and other cancer treatments; however, it may also be used in tandem with these treatments.

Treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia with CyberKnife has been proven in groundbreaking clinical trials. Up to 80 percent of Trigeminal Neuralgia patients who were treated with CyberKnife experienced significant pain relief.

CyberKnife Procedure

The CyberKnife System uses image-guided technology to create multiple, focused beams of radiation to a tumor or targeted area from virtually any angle. This advanced radiation treatment moves with the tumor and the patient in real time. This allows for patients to be unrestrained, and there is no need for gating or breath-holding techniques.

The procedure to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia begins with a CT or brain scan of the trigeminal nerve area. This data is uploaded into the CyberKnife System to provide targeted treatment to a specific area. During the procedure, the patient lies in a comfortable body cradle. With the advanced tracking system of CyberKnife, patients do not need to be strapped down. The treatment is a fast and efficient way to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia. A common side effect is facial numbness. This usually correlates with the original degree of pain.

Radiation therapy at the Phoenix CyberKnife & Radiation Oncology Center is an outpatient procedure that does not require anesthesia or stabilizing frames. CyberKnife treatments enable patients to avoid surgery and the long process of recovery associated with it. Patients can return home the very same day and resume their daily activities.

The CyberKnife System improves on the technology of the Gamma Knife using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), also called stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), which allows the CyberKnife to deliver treatments throughout the body, not just to the brain and the spine. The CyberKnife radiation technology’s highly-focused beams allow for use to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia effectively.For more information about how Phoenix CyberKnife can help you and to hear more about treatment options, visit Phoenix CyberKnife & Radiation Oncology Center.